CHAPTER XXVIII. THE BRIDAL CHAMBER.

 

THERE is no doubt in my mind," said Solon, but that men of science on earth will shortly be able to prove, through scientific demonstration, the existence of the spiritual spheres together with the angelic, also, that these worlds are not mere shadows, but substance in an ethereal state, as we, who are here, are well aware."

 

"Yes," replied Sigismund; "they are well on the road toward it already; the methods which are being evolved will soon bring forth the wished for result; sensitive plates, telegraphy, telephony, electric motive power,

 

aerial ships, vibratory sound, color rays reflection and refraction: Ah! they will arrive at the grand truth sooner than they think, and will suddenly pull up with an exclamation of astonishment. The soul of man has dimly reflected the truth always, but he will soon be able to grasp it with his material scientific sense, and thus prove it to his utter dismay."

 

"Yes," said Solon, "and when he at length finds that the waters of his earth are actually lessening, the earth itself really growing lighter in weight although larger in bulk, he will begin to ask, 'What becomes of the water? Wherefore is the earth lighter?'"

 

"How easily we could tell him," said Sigismund, "if he would believe us; but evolution will set him right before long."

 

"Yes; when he finds that evolution is a great chain, binding and connecting all things together, he will readily trace the links upward until he arrives at the spiritual; that the material evolves the spiritual, the spiritual the angelic, and so on. How can one, who comprehends the law of evolution, stop at the material? When one comes to understand that water evolves air, air ether, that the earth evolves spiritual essences, and all living things evolve spiritual life, one will be striking great scientific facts. Ah! never fear for man; he will soon get there; he is speeding very rapidly."

 

"But even the most scientific men, at the present time, make great mistakes: for instance, they call the young child of their earth—the moon—an old worn-out world, when they have Saturn and Jupiter before their eyes as positive evidence that such cannot be the case. Is not Jupiter larger and older than the earth, and has she not four moons instead of one? Who could ever dream of calling Jupiter's moons, old worn-out worlds? Is it not plain to be seen that they are Jupiter's children, revolving about their parent, and that she is likely to throw off other worlds as time goes on?"

 

"Truly," replied Solon, "you have well said, and you might add, when they even have Saturn before their eyes, with her immensely heavy rings, rings almost ready to break away from their progenitor, and resolve themselves into a young moon."

 

"Also, the belts of Jupiter," interrupted Sigismund, "not yet wholly fecundated. Ages must pass before Jupiter will throw off another child or moon."

 

"If man was but wise enough to see that all things whatsoever are types of all other things whatsoever, he would not make as many mistakes as he does now. The natural world is before his eyes, and all things therein appeal to his reason, yet he prefers, like a child, to believe in myths and fables which have been handed down to him from his progenitors, who lived in a more youthful age of the world's history; and, as youth has not the wisdom of more mature years, he ought to understand well, that the myths and fables of the past are not worthy of the present age of his world. Man, in his progress, Must keep pace with the planet on which he lives. The earth is older and more mature now than it was five or six thousand years ago, of its time, and man ought to be ashamed to look back to that comparatively early period, and still believe in its youthful follies. Man observes that all things on earth propagate in small families; all animals; each tuft of grass; in fact, the whole animal and vegetable kingdoms, and lastly men; he looks at the sun with its system or family of planets, he also observes some of these planets, which are old enough, With little families of moons; his own earth with one, and yet he foolishly talks about this young child being an old worn-out world, when it is merely the helplessness and undeveloped condition of an exceedingly young child who is not yet able to walk alone; a world that has so recently been thrown off from the earth that it has not yet evolved an atmosphere, its water has not yet been entirely evolved from its material substance: its great inequalities, which are called mountains, are owing to the fact that the broken ring from the earth has not yet had time to make itself smooth and lovely."

 

"Ah!" said Sigismund, "man will soon begin to reason more wisely. Wisdom is a priceless jewel, and must be diligently sought for."

 

Annie now arose, and asked me if I would like to go with her, as she had something to show me. I followed her, feeling more blithe and gay than I ever had before in all my past existence; although we were ascending a spiral stairway of pearl and gold, yet my feet did not touch the steps, for we floated rather than walked. Up and up we softly went, until Annie paused before the entrance to an upper chamber. This entrance was large, loftly and arched; the drapery by which it was covered was just the color of morning's rosy dawn—deep, gauzy, misty; so much so that it concealed the interior of the room, and within its lovely depths the sun was rising, showing about half its golden disk. The curtain was so exquisitely beautiful and mysterious, that I paused long to examine it, and I found it to be, like all other spiritual things, composed of spiritual emanations:

 

"And fashioned into this semblance by myself," said Annie, with a smile. "Is not that a beautiful curtain for a bridal chamber? Behold! it is not heavier than light. You will not be obliged to lift it on entering; we can pass directly through it, just as those, on earth pass through light, but seldom stop to think that light is a substance, although so spiritualized and attenuated. Yes," she continued, "man, on earth, walks within light, which is purely a spiritual emanation from the sun, or rather, it is the sun's aura, and if it were not for this shining aura he could see nothing. Now, I have made this curtain from my own spiritual aura, because I love you, my sweet Mary. Come, let us enter the chamber."

 

We passed through the curtain of light, and entered the room: it was very large, lofty and domed, one great, stained, bay window overlooking the lake and the pure city angelic. I glided to a corresponding window opposite, and looked forth toward the East, for the first mentioned one was Westward, and, far in the distance, I saw a boundless expanse of water. This ocean had not been visible when we were lower down, and it was the first time I had seen it. My surprise was so great that I fairly gasped.

 

"O Annie! Annie I cried. Come here! Do, look! Is it possible that there is an ocean in the spiritual world?"

 

"An ocean?" she said. "There are many, many oceans, but that particular one is called the Red Sea: observe its exquisite coloring, Mary, just the color of a red, red rose."

 

And so it was. She threw open the window, and the fresh sea breeze swept through the apartment. Salt sea breeze, would you have it, dear reader? but it was not; instead, like the subtle perfume of a rose, but as breezy, fresh and invigorating to the spirit as the salt sea is to earthly man. The perfume of flowers is to the soul what the perfume of the ocean is to man. Spirits and angels draw in the sweet breath of the flowers, and the subtle essence feeds and helps to sustain their ethereal bodies. Do not suppose that flowers alone hold all the perfume or essence there is in the universe; they but attract and hold for a time the least little grain; each its particular kind; but, within immensity are vast oceans and seas composed of the subtle spiritual essence of all the perfumes that are known on earth, and many more. Tell me, if you can, where the flowers obtain their perfume, ye men of science. Not from the earth, certainly. Soil does not hold the subtle perfumes within it. Take up a handful, and smell it. The rose, nor any other flower, does not get its sweetness there; but, where? From out the spiritual atmosphere. They lift up their sweet faces, and draw their color and perfume from our clime, the heavens, or the ethereal atmosphere. Deny it, if you can, O ye men of science—ye wise ones in your own conceit."

 

I looked at my sister. A change had come over her. Her angelhood leaped, sparkled, and quivered all about her. There are no words to describe the glorious creature.

 

"Mary," she said, observing my surprise,

 

I have kept myself down for seasons of time, that you might be able to comprehend me, and thus gradually be lifted into the angel world: soon, I shall be able to throw off those lower conditions, when in your presence, and you will perceive me as I really am; but before you can do this fully, you must first become an angel yourself."

 

We turned from the window to the room and its furnishings; but before describing the room I will answer a question that I know will arise in the mind of the reader:

 

"You say, 'One window looked toward the West, and the other toward the East.' How is it that you have points of compass in the spiritual world? We thought that was merely an earthly fact?"

 

I will tell you. That condition and place which is ever before us to be attained, we call the West. Our past, and all which we have in part known something about, is East. We reverse the earthly order of things a little, for we face the West, at our right is North. at our left South, and behind us East—the past or more material things. Thus, all I had left in the past was East, all to which I was going forward, was the West, that which my right hand grasped was North, and my left, South; thus, the points of the compass are within each one. I hope I have made this clear.

 

This large room was oblong, and in the center of it was a great white throne, circular in form; on the throne stood a statue draped in white; three spotless steps led up to this, but I did not yet ascend them, instead, turned toward a table which was near me, to see what it might contain:

 

"Wedding cake and wine; as sure as I live!"

 

I turned my astonished eyes on my sister.

 

"Why! how is this, Annie? Who is to be wedded here?" "Your own sweet self, my darling," she replied. "And to whom am I to be  wed?

 

If you lift the vail which covers the statue, it will reveal to you your other-self, for that throne and that statue was not created by me, but has stood within the Temple since the waves of time and eternity rolled. Mary, the throne is within yourself. I merely reveal, or make it objective to you; that is all."

 

I turned away, awe-struck and shaking, not yet having courage to lift the vail. Annie observed my weakness, and said:

 

"Sip a little of the wine, dear, and taste a morsel of cake; it will strengthen, and give you courage to lift the vail."

 

Obeying her, she said, as I broke a piece of cake and carried it to my lips:

 

"That cake represents spiritual food; the wine"—as we filled our glasses and softly clinked them together— "everlasting life. The food of the soul is wisdom, and love the wine. Have you now courage and strength to lift the vail?

 

Yes; the wine of love filled my soul, and wisdom's food inspired me with courage; I ascended the steps, and reverently—O! so reverently lifted the vail, throwing it back gently. A glorious vision met my eyes. It was not one statue, but two, standing, when concealed by the vail, as one, yet the faces were so carved and blended together that looking at them in one way they appeared but one, yet when they appeared two, they were Solon and myself. His left arm was thrown about her shoulders as she stood one step in advance, her head resting against his left breast; his right hand clasped her left, her right arm was thrown about him. The figures were far more beautiful than Venus and Adonis, for the faces were those of Angelhood, the forms those of Wisdom and Love: both wore flowing robes, tinged like a glowing sunrise. The figures were so dazzlingly bright that I slowly drew the vail over them, but, from this time for evermore, I knew who my own other-self was. Once more my gaze rested longingly over the lake, on the shining city, which I now knew would soon be my home.

 

"Has Solon ever seen these figures?" I asked.

 

"No," she replied." When souls are about to be wedded, the true one is revealed to the female first; from her to the male. He may have been very much attracted to her may have felt the sweetness of her power, may have hoped and believed she was his by natural law, but the revealment to her soul, beyond cavil or doubt, is first made. Let us now descend, that Sigismund and Solon may also come hither."

 

We descended, and found the gentlemen still conversing together. Annie, looking at her beloved, waved her hand toward the stairway, and we then went out into the garden, while the gentlemen made their way to the Bridal Chamber. We slowly wound our way around among the flowers and shrubbery, and at last entered a bower literally covered by trailing roses; here we took seats, gazing out toward the North.

 

For a time we did not speak, for I was lost in a blissful dream. A great event was taking place in my life, an event which rounded out and completed my otherwise incomplete being, and my soul was chanting to itself a hymn of thankfulness and joy. I now fully realized that my earthly, marriage had been a thing of time and not of eternity. I dearly loved my husband, so I thought at the time, but I now found that my interior or spiritual life had known nothing about love whatever; the marriage had been entirely of an earthly nature, my love for my children being paramount: whereas, my love for my husband should have been greatest, my parental love secondary; the union had been entirely of the material and not of the spiritual, and, as time after time I visited my former husband, I found our souls widely separated; really, there was nothing whatever in common between us except our mutual love for the two young men, our children, yet on earth; those with me here he did not believe existed; he looked no higher than the earth and that which it would give him, yet his soul was filled with seeds of greatness, talents of a very high order were budding within him; still, he thought all would be blighted and come to naught when he should lay his body down.